Former President Jimmy Carter seems to have outlived his critics while becoming the “longest lived” president in history, longer than the late George H.W. Bush.
Once the poster boy of failed Democratic politics and policies, the 94-year-old Carter is now the second most popular president of all the living chiefs, just behind No. 1, Barack Obama in a new YouGov.com survey.
“YouGov Ratings measures the popularity of all living U.S. presidents and it shows that Carter, who has spent 38 years as a retired president, is seen positively by half (51 percent) of Americans. Obama is slightly more popular with 56 percent of people viewing him favorably. George W. Bush is the third most-popular (43 percent), closely followed by Bill Clinton (42 percent). President Donald Trump is viewed favorably by 38 percent of Americans,” said the survey analysis.
The problems that plagued Carter, such as soaring interest rates, gas lines, and the capture of Americans in Iran, propelled long shot Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan into the White House, leading to 12 years of GOP control of the West Wing.
But since he left office, Carter has become the most respected former president and a leader in international politics through his Atlanta, Ga.-based Carter Center.
The survey found that he is viewed most as “honorable.”
